Hot Cross Buns
Dense, slightly sweet, spicy, and packed full of currants or raisins, hot cross buns are a much-loved treat of Easter and springtime.
Ingredients
Sweet Dough
- 1 teaspoon white sugar
- 1/2 cup water at 105 °F
- 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast traditional
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 large egg beaten, yolk
- 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 cup currants
Flour Cross
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 6-8 tablespoons water
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg beaten slightly, white
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Combine the white sugar, water and yeast. Let sit for ten minutes until bubbled and frothy.
- Heat the 3/4 cup of milk in the microwave until steamy (scald the milk) but do not boil. Place in a bowl attached to a stand mixer with the dough hook attached.
- Mix in the white sugar and the melted butter. Add in the beaten eggs.
- Whisk together the flour, salt, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
- Start the dough hook and slowly add the flour. If needed, add in another 1/4 cup of flour. The dough should just stick to your hands slightly but come together in a nice ball of dough.
- Add the currants in and work in by hand.
- Shape into a smooth ball and place in a large, greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, around 60-90 minutes.
- Punch down the dough and divide into 18 buns.
- Arrange the buns 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Spray plastic wrap with cooking spray and place on top of the buns.
- Let the buns rise until doubled in size.
- Prepare the flour crosses by mixing the flour and water until you get a pipeable paste.
- Place the dough into a small Ziplock bag then snip the corner off.
- Pipe crosses on top of the buns lightly making sure not to deflate the risen buns. Combine the water and the egg white and brush a light coating on top of the buns.
- Preheat your oven to 400 °F.
- Bake in the oven for 15-18 minutes until a deep golden brown and baked through completely.
- Remove from the oven and cool slightly. Enjoy warm, or store in a closed container at room temperature for up to 5 days,
Notes
- currants are traditional but hard to find, you can use raisins instead!
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 18 buns
Amount Per Serving
Calories 206
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 206kcal | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 33g | 11% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 35mg | 12% |
| Sodium | 188mg | 8% |
| Potassium | 105mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 9g | 18% |
| Vitamin A | 206IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 26mg | 3% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.